CLEICTOCACTUS STRAUSII

ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS

This is part of the Cactaceae family and may also be known by the common name "Silver Torch". This species is native to the mountainous regions of the southern cone.

The Cleictocactus is grayish-green in color and can grow up to two meters tall and is a columnar cactus that tends to branch out over time. It has 25 veins throughout the stem and they are generally not visible because they are covered with thorns, also along their entire length.

Its flowering occurs in warm seasons, leaving us red flowers that bear fruit. It is a very striking plant for its flowers, with a lighter reddish tone in the area closest to the cactus and that tends to darken at the ends, with a cylindrical shape that grows horizontally on all the stems, contrasting with the natural color of the cactus itself. Cactus. Cactus. Cactus.

DECORATION OF ... EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR?

This plant is perfect to incorporate into our garden. They are usually placed with other cacti of the same color to make them stand out, both in ornamental gardens and in pots.

When this cactus is not yet large, we can incorporate it into our house to give it a touch of color and place it on a sunny surface, as long as the pot provides good drainage.

CARE FOR CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS

They are showy and very pretty plants that hardly need maintenance.

- They prefer places with direct light or good lighting, preferably next to a window, on a balcony, terrace or in their garden.

- It supports low temperatures, around 5ºC.

- It is essential that they have good drainage, both in the ground and in pots.

- The ideal substrate for cacti must be combined with sand and gravel, so that they have good drainage, humidity and excess water are not good.

- Irrigation should not be excessive. From spring to fall, which would be their growing season, water every fortnight, water abundantly, and wait for the soil to dry out again. In winter, do not water or water once a month.

- Fertilizer. During the growing season (spring - fall), you can fertilize them with worm channels. The eggshell is a good household fertilizer, since it contains (Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium and Phosphorus) these nutrients are very important and favor its growth, they must be crushed and mixed with the substrate, administer a few times. annually.

- Treatment against fungi due to excess humidity, disinfect the area with a copper-based fungicide.

- If you want to transplant them from the pot or from the ground, the best time is spring.

And do not forget that to work with cacti you need to wear good gloves.